Has raising a family in Georgia felt especially hard over the past year? It’s not just you. According to a new WalletHub analysis, Georgia is the 40th best state to raise a family.
The analysis, which compared all 50 U.S. states across 50 of their “key indicators of family-friendliness” gave Georgia a score of 45.27, over 20 points lower than the score of the highest ranked state, Massachusetts.
Georgia ranked higher in many of their key indicators, including ranking 21st as the best state for family fun and 34th on education and child care. However, the state also ranked 46th on affordability and 43rd on health and safety.
Georgia is far from the only state where raising a family has become harder.
In 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture found that it can cost a family over $200,000 to raise a child from birth to age 18, and that number has only gone up in recent years.
“Raising a family has become significantly more expensive in recent years as the cost of living has risen quickly,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. “In light of the expensive nature of being a parent and the responsibility it entails, it’s important to live in a city that is affordable while still providing quality health care, education, safety and opportunities for enrichment.”
No southern states ranked top 10 in WalletHub’s analysis, with Virginia being the highest ranked southern state at 21. Texas and Tennessee were the next highest ranked southern states, at 30 and 31 respectively.
What should families consider when choosing where to settle?
If you are still deciding where you want to settle and raise your family, choosing such a large decision can feel overwhelming. However, there are considerations you should not forget.
“Families may want to consider factors like access to green spaces, pollution levels, school performance, health care availability, and the cost of living,” Monica Oxford, an early childhood mental health expert, told WalletHub.
Families making this huge decision should also consider “the legislation and political context of a state,” Kendal Holstrop, associate professor of human development and family studies at Michigan State University, told WalletHub. Holstrop also told families to look out for personal considerations, “such as being close to family or wanting a certain type of climate.”
Tom Chiaromonte, professor of child development & educational studies at Fullerton College, told young families to not put too much pressure on themselves to find the perfect place and instead find what works for their family.
“I became a father for the first time while in my mid-thirties, this delayed parenthood provided career stability, as well as the financial resources to purchase a home,” Chiaromonte told WalletHub. “Not everyone has access to these resources so options may be limited, and decisions made with possible conditions.”
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